Do Epsom-salt baths ease the pains offibromyalgiaandchronic fatigue syndrome? They’re a common self-treatment, but do Epsom salts really do anything? And if so, how?
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Epsom salts aren’t really “salt.” They’re crystals of magnesium sulfate and they’ve been used as a home remedy for hundreds of years.
At the same time, you can find claims online about all kinds of things that Epsom salts can supposedly do. Some people say that they ease all types of pain as well as speed healing. You can also read that topical magnesium sulfate (applied to and absorbed through the skin) is more effective than taking oral magnesium supplements.
If you start digging into it, though, there’s not much science behind these claims. In fact, Epsom salts and other forms of topical magnesium sulfate have barely been researched at all.
What Do We Know?
Ingestedmagnesium, such as from food or supplements, is important for several bodily functions. We know that it is involved with:
Some people claim that magnesium supplements reduce thespecific types of pain and tendernessthat characterize fibromyalgia and are part of some cases of chronic fatigue syndrome. However, these claims are not backed up with much research.
On the flip side, magnesium can also be really hard on the digestive system. It can cause nausea, persistent diarrhea, bloating, and cramping, and many of us can’t tolerate it as a supplement.
Lots of Questions
Any benefits of magnesium are linked to dietary intake or supplements. When you make the jump from ingested to topical use, though, a couple of questions arise:
We do have a limited amount of evidence about the first question. Most substances are not absorbed through the skin, which is waterproof. Some small studies have shown increases in blood levels of magnesium due to skin absorption—for example, from Epsom salt baths or application of a magnesium skin cream or lotion—but they were small and poorly designed. So we just can’t answer that question definitively.
Unsupported Claims
And detoxification? Your body already takes care of that. The term “detox” has become a buzzword that few people really understand. The long and short of it is that your body has perfectly good systems for eliminating toxins. So, unless you have liver or kidney disease, you don’t need to worry about detoxing. At best, claims regarding detox are unsupported scientifically. At worst, they could be dangerous.
So … Where Do We Stand?
BecauseEpsom saltshave been popular for a long time, we do at least know they’re not dangerous. However, if you expect miracles based on unfounded claims, you’re likely to be disappointed. If Epsom salt baths work for you, great! Just don’t expect dramatic improvements or a cure.
And a long, hot bath is usually good for us, so soak away!
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Center, Oregon State University.Magnesium.Boulis M, Boulis M, Clauw D.Magnesium and fibromyalgia: a literature review.J Prim Care Community Health. 2021;12:21501327211038433. doi:10.1177/21501327211038433National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Magnesium fact sheet for professionals.Gröber U, Werner T, Vormann J, Kisters K.Myth or reality-transdermal magnesium?.Nutrients. 2017;9(8):813. doi:10.3390/nu9080813
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Center, Oregon State University.Magnesium.Boulis M, Boulis M, Clauw D.Magnesium and fibromyalgia: a literature review.J Prim Care Community Health. 2021;12:21501327211038433. doi:10.1177/21501327211038433National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Magnesium fact sheet for professionals.Gröber U, Werner T, Vormann J, Kisters K.Myth or reality-transdermal magnesium?.Nutrients. 2017;9(8):813. doi:10.3390/nu9080813
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Center, Oregon State University.Magnesium.Boulis M, Boulis M, Clauw D.Magnesium and fibromyalgia: a literature review.J Prim Care Community Health. 2021;12:21501327211038433. doi:10.1177/21501327211038433National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Magnesium fact sheet for professionals.Gröber U, Werner T, Vormann J, Kisters K.Myth or reality-transdermal magnesium?.Nutrients. 2017;9(8):813. doi:10.3390/nu9080813
Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Center, Oregon State University.Magnesium.
Boulis M, Boulis M, Clauw D.Magnesium and fibromyalgia: a literature review.J Prim Care Community Health. 2021;12:21501327211038433. doi:10.1177/21501327211038433
National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.Magnesium fact sheet for professionals.
Gröber U, Werner T, Vormann J, Kisters K.Myth or reality-transdermal magnesium?.Nutrients. 2017;9(8):813. doi:10.3390/nu9080813
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